Interpreter vs Ava for interpreters
Choose Ava if you're Deaf or hard of hearing and want captions of the conversations around you.
Choose Interpreter if you hear both languages fine and need the details of the call on screen while you interpret.
The main difference: Ava is an accessibility tool. Interpreter is built for the interpreter on a two-language call.
What Ava does
Ava makes live captions for Deaf and hard of hearing people, so they can follow conversations and meetings.
It's built for people who can't hear the conversation. Interpreters hear it fine. The hard part is keeping up with names, numbers and two languages at once.
What Interpreter does
Interpreter puts every word of your call on screen as people speak, with the tools to act on it. It's built for phone (OPI) and video (VRI) interpreters. It works with call audio you share from Chrome or Edge, any call app on a Mac or Windows computer, and supported Android apps. Nobody else on the call joins or installs anything.
Live translate shows both languages as people speak. Captions only shows what people say, and you click a caption to translate just that line. Each speaker's turns get their own color, side by side or stacked.
Before the call, set the Call topic, like medical, legal or insurance, and add the names and terms you expect to hear. Your glossary sets how a term is translated, up to 200 terms. During the call, press Ctrl K (⌘K on a Mac) for Quick lookup, keep a callback number in Notes, and press Space to pause. Paused time isn't charged. Interpreter is HIPAA compliant, SOC 2 Type II audited and GDPR compliant.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Interpreter | Ava |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Interpreters on live calls | Deaf and hard of hearing people |
| Audio | Desktop call audio and supported Android apps | Conversations and meetings |
| Click translation | Yes | No |
| Quick lookup | Yes | No |
| Glossary | Up to 200 terms | No |
| Notes | Yes | No |
| Call topic | 9 topics | No |
| Session length | No limit | Depends on plan |
| Pricing model | Pay as you go or monthly plan | Subscription |
Pricing
Pay as you go
$10 for 22 hours
Captions only and Live translate cost the same. Packs start at $0.45 an hour, and larger packs include bonus hours. Monthly plans are also available.
See pricingAva sells subscriptions. With Interpreter, you buy hours as you go or pick a monthly plan, with no sales call.
Choose Ava if
- You're Deaf or hard of hearing and need everyday captions
- You need captions as a workplace accommodation
- You caption in-person group meetings or events
Choose Interpreter if
- You're a professional OPI interpreter working phone calls
- You need both speakers' languages on screen as people speak
- Your calls can run long, and sessions have no time limit
- You handle medical or legal calls and want a Call topic and a glossary for their terms
- You want to pay as you go, with no sales call
- You take calls on agency portals, softphones or browser-based platforms
The real question
Interpreters listen, process and render at the same time, and cognitive overload is a common cause of burnout. Writing notes on top of that is often the breaking point.
Interpreter shows both languages, each speaker in their own color, with Quick lookup and Notes a shortcut away. The details stay on screen, so your attention stays on the message.
Ava does important work for people who can't hear. If you're an interpreter who has been using it to get by, try the tool built for your job.
Common questions
Can I use Ava for interpreting phone calls?
Ava is built to caption conversations for people who can't hear them, not as an interpreter tool on OPI calls. Interpreter captions the call audio you share and shows both languages.
Is Ava HIPAA compliant?
Check Ava's site for its current compliance details. Interpreter is HIPAA compliant, SOC 2 Type II audited and GDPR compliant. Interpreter does not save audio, captions, or translations.
Does Ava translate between languages?
Ava focuses on captions for accessibility. Interpreter translates both sides of the call with Live translate, or just the captions you click with Captions only. Quick lookup and your glossary help with specialized terms.
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Try it on your next call
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